Photomagnetic compounds are usually achieved by assembling preorganized individual molecules into rationally designed molecular architectures via the bottom-up approach. Here we show that a magnetic response to light can also be enforced in a nonphotomagnetic compound by applying mechanical stress. The nonphotomagnetic cyano-bridged Fe^II–Nb^IV coordination polymer {[Fe^II(pyrazole)₄]₂[Nb^IV(CN)₈]·4H₂O}_n (FeNb) has been subjected to high-pressure structural, magnetic and photomagnetic studies at low temperature, which revealed a wide spectrum of pressure-related functionalities including the light-induced magnetization. The multifunctionality of FeNb is compared with a simple structural and magnetic pressure response of its analog {[Mn^II(pyrazole)₄]₂[Nb^IV(CN)₈]·4H₂O}_n (MnNb). The FeNb coordination polymer is the first pressure-induced spin-crossover photomagnet.

Octacyanidometallates have been successfully employed in the design of heterometallic coordination systems offering a spectacular range of desired physical properties with great potential for technological applications. The [M(CN)₈]ⁿ⁻ ions comprise a series of complexes of heavy transition metals in high oxidation states, including Nb^IV, Mo^IV/V, W^IV/V, and Re^V. Since the discovery of the pioneering bimetallic {Mn^II ₄[M^IV(CN)₈]₂} and {Mn^II ₉[M^V(CN)₈]₆} (M = Mo, W) molecules in 2000, octacyanidometallates were fruitfully explored as precursors for the construction of diverse d–d or d–f coordination clusters and frameworks which could be obtained in the crystalline form under mild synthetic conditions. The primary interest in [M(CN)₈]ⁿ⁻-based networks was focused on their application as molecule-based magnets exhibiting long-range magnetic ordering resulting from the efficient intermetallic exchange coupling mediated by cyanido bridges. However, in the last few years, octacyanidometallate-based materials proved to offer varied and remarkable functionalities, becoming efficient building blocks for the construction of molecular nanomagnets, magnetic coolers, spin transition materials, photomagnets, solvato-magnetic materials, including molecular magnetic sponges, luminescent magnets, chiral magnets and photomagnets, SHG-active magnetic materials, pyro- and ferroelectrics, ionic conductors as well as electrochemical containers. Some of these materials can be processed into the nanoscale opening the route towards the development of magnetic, optical and electronic devices. In this review, we summarise all important achievements in the field of octacyanidometallate-based functional materials, with the particular attention to the most recent advances, and present a thorough discussion on non-trivial structural and electronic features of [M(CN)₈]ⁿ⁻ ions, which are purposefully explored to introduce desired physical properties and their combinations towards advanced multifunctional materials.